The X chromosome codes for the coat colors – orange/red and black. There are different genes that come in to play to determine the pattern of stripes or spots and how they are expressed in a given cat.Ĭats’ coat colors are linked to their sex chromosomes (XY). Calico and Tortoiseshell cats can also have tabby marks within the colors – this is known as a ‘patched tabby’ pattern sometimes also referred to as Torbie or Tortoiseshell Tabby. However we can generally see the stripes in a lighter color (orange) but they may be hidden in a darker color (black). The stripes that we see on a cat’s coat are also related to the pattern, but not specifically the color. Tortoiseshell cats have mottled orange and black colors usually with little or no white. Though they have the genes for displaying the same colors as a standard calico, dilute calicos will display muted colors of cream, strawberry-blonde, and grey instead of white, black, and orange.Calico coats have large patches of orange, black and white. But dilute calicos are even rarer, sporting faded colors that make the cat appear pastel. Considering how rare they are, this just might be true! After all, only 1 in 1,000 cats is born calico. ![]() In many cultures, calico cats are thought to bring good luck. Image Credit: Aleksei Verhovski, Shutterstock In addition, they hold more body fat, which can cause diabetes, heart disease, and continuous joint pain. Male calicos also tend to have behavioral problems due to mental development impairment. These cats have less bone mineral content, which means a greater risk of broken bones. Only 1 in 10,000 male calicos are fertile. Because of this, male calicos are generally very unhealthy and sterile. However, 1 out of every 3,000 calico cats is born male due to a genetic anomaly known as Klinefelter syndrome. Furthermore, they require an unrelated gene to introduce the white coloring.īecause it requires two X chromosomes to create a tri-color coat in a cat, generally speaking, males cannot display such a coat. For a cat to become calico, it must have an X chromosome with orange coloring and another X chromosome with black coloring. Females have two X chromosomes while males have just one. The X chromosome carries the genes for color. It takes a very unusual chromosome pattern to create a calico cat. The breeds that can produce the calico coloring include: Image Credit: Elisa Putti, ShutterstockĪs we mentioned, calico cats come in many breeds, though not all breeds can produce calicos. Their colors are also blended and mixed instead of exhibiting specific patches of color. Calico cats must have white as one of their colors and the other colors appear as patches over the white. However, the way that the colors present themselves is very different from a calico. Tortoiseshell cats also have tri-colored coats. While tortoiseshell and calico cats are very similar, they’re not actually the same thing. You’ll often hear tortoiseshell and calico used interchangeably. The white will dilute to cream, orange dilutes to strawberry-shaded blonde, and the black dilutes to gray.ĭilute calicos are also called calamanco cats or clouded tigers. Dilute calicos have the same tri-colored coat that calicos have, but the dilute gene causes the colors to be muted and appear faded. When thinking of dilute in relation to a cat’s coat, you can replace it with the synonym muted. What Is a Dilute Calico Cat? Image Credit: Pixabay Calicos are exceptionally rare, despite the fact that this coloring can appear in many breeds. The coat of a calico cat features distinct patches of color with white being the base. This means that you can have calico cats in several breeds. ![]() Many people assume that calico is a breed, but it’s only a color pattern. They’re prized for their gorgeous coats, but there’s a lot of misunderstanding surrounding these cats. ![]() Most often, the other colors are black and orange. What Is a Calico Cat? Image Credit: loicp90, PixabayĪ calico cat is a cat with a coat that displays three colors, with one of them being white.
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